THE SHOWDOWN 151 



fair trial, the Exchange might see its way clear to 

 rescind the suspension. 



" Just so," nodded the commission men among them- 

 selves. " The logical and certain result^will be the 

 weeding oufof the commission men and track buyers, 

 who give practically the only element of competition 

 that exis^s^m"~tEe~Irade ! One of the curses of our 

 Canadian commercialism is the strong tendency to 

 monopoly and this looks like an effort to create an 

 absolute elevator monopoly of the grain trade, which 

 is the staple industry of the country.'* 



But if the small dealers on the Exchange were 

 aroused, what about the farmers' trading company? 

 They did business on a commission basis only and with 

 the^^elevators offering to handle the farmers' grain for 

 nothmg^or next door to it, what would happen? Would 

 The farmer be " unable to see past his nose," as was pre- 

 dicted? Would he forget the conditions of the early 

 days and grab for a present saving of five or ten dollars 

 per car? If the farmers did not stand together now, 

 they were licked ! It was a showdown. 



There was only one thing to do take a referendum 

 of the shareholders as to the basis on which they wished 

 the year's business handled. The Board of Control of 

 the Grain Growers' Grain Company therefore issued 

 the following circular letter, which was mailed to every 

 farmer shareholder: 



" This matter we now bring to your notice is the 

 most important yet. 



"At a meeting of the Grain Exchange, held a 

 few days ago, the Commission Rule was suspended 

 for a year. This means that there is no fixed 

 charge for handling grain, and any company o" 

 firm can, if they wish, handle car lots for nothing. 



